Solar panels are popping up across the Garden State on rooftops, in fields and on commercial buildings, but without thoughtful, targeted policy, the clean energy revolution will reinforce economic disparities in our state instead of dismantling them.

Affordable, local, clean energy offers immense economic opportunity for New Jersey. Here in the Capital City we have an undeniable need for sustainable careers in new and expanding industries. Solar power creates jobs, boosts economic investment and helps small businesses and individual New Jersey families save money month after month. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), solar investment in the state is nearly $10 million, supporting 6,410 jobs at over 700 companies. Our local solar industry is one of the strongest in the country and is projected to grow even stronger.

Solar energy also helps address the climate crisis, and municipalities like Trenton can be examples to which others can aspire. While world leaders squabbled at the global climate conference in Madrid in December, cities like Trenton continue to act. That’s why I joined Climate Mayors, a national movement of cities working together to make change in our communities. As a dense, urban center, we are all too familiar with the current impacts of our changing climate, making it imperative that we invest in solutions.

Under Gov. Phil Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has committed to achieving 100% clean energy by 2050, an ambitious target that makes our state a national leader on climate action. But our actions speak even louder. Specifically, in Trenton, state buildings could offer ample surface area for solar farms. The same sentiment would be applied to standalone residences, public housing developments, and other city-owned properties. Our historic parks will also benefit. Solar power could additionally be used to expand nighttime lighting in public green spaces, around Trenton’s historic monuments, and throughout public streets.

New Jersey currently has enough solar to power nearly half a million homes. And, New Jersey’s total solar capacity is expected to grow by 66% in the next five years, according to SEIA.

But these benefits have not helped all New Jersey families equally. Low-income New Jersey families in particular need strong clean energy policies that put their needs first to ensure that they, too, can participate in the solar revolution. That includes creative financing to help low-income families own and save with solar power, job training programs to help disadvantaged communities access well-paying local jobs, and ongoing community engagement to ensure a just and equitable transition to a clean energy future.

New Jersey’s disadvantaged communities, particularly cities like Trenton, have long been on the polluting end of our energy pipeline. Our current centralized system that pollutes some neighborhoods while powering others is not working for Trenton families. Doing the hard work of developing inclusive policies for a new energy future is about economic benefits for all of our communities and addressing the global climate crisis, but at its core it is also about shifting power - and where our power comes from - to create a more just energy policy for our state.

Trenton can and will be a leader in the clean energy transition. Our city is ready to get to work by training our residents for new jobs and building local, sustainable economies. We are also committed to helping current renters become homeowners who can invest in our housing stock and personally benefit from improved energy efficiency and storage. Our multi-family housing residents are also ready to save with community solar, as are many of our urban businesses. Together, these community investments will help build wealth and garner additional savings for Trenton’s low-income families.

In December, a diverse group of climate, faith, justice and community advocates introduced a roadmap to bring solar energy to 250,000 low-income New Jersey families. This year, I look forward to endorsing the resulting legislation that will put their words into action. If we act now, we can pass these inclusive policies that will lift up our low-income neighbors and help everyone thrive in an equitable clean energy future.